SUMMER SWING AT THE DANCE HALL WITH CLYDE BISBEE & THE WHEELHOUSE REVELERS

Kittery, Maine- On Saturday, July 27th The Dance Hall, Kittery will feature a swing dance with Clyde Bisbee and The Wheelhouse Revelers.  Clyde and the Revelers are a 6-piece swing, jazz & western swing dance band specializing in music from the golden era of jazz, the 1920’s, 30’s and 40’s. While many modern groups playing this style of music are decidedly “New Orleans,” in flavor, Clyde and the Wheelhouse Revelers approach the genre from the more northerly and western reaches. Their sound, while eschewing any singular label, has more of a West Coast swing/western swing feel. Greats such as Louis Armstrong, Bob Wills, Billie Holiday, Milton Brown, Hank Williams and Louis Prima, to name a few, are in heavy rotation at their performances. Besides swing jazz and western swing, a bit of 1940’s and early 50’s jump blues are on the menu as well as some original music in keeping with the era.

For performances this New England swing band also dresses in clothes that are true to the era of these amazing songs. They utilize authentically vintage props onstage, engaging the senses for a truly vicarious, retro time hop. Besides being a literally knee-slapping, toe-tapping, get-me-to-the-dance-floor good time, it’s also an educational and culturally enriching experience. Something that can be shared between generations as the music our parents, grandparents and great grandparents danced and lived by. Imagine getting to experience a show that your grandparents or great grandparents went to in the 1940’s….well, Clyde Bisbee & The Wheelhouse Revelers can get you pretty close.

Instrumentation is rhythm and lead guitars, piano, upright bass, lap/pedal steel and drums. But don’t be surprised to see tenor banjo, ukulele, kazoo and even a horn player or two sneaking around.

There is a free swing dance lesson with Jen & Ray at 7:30 p.m. Music starts at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $16 in advance and $20 at the door and can be purchased at www.thedancehallkittery.org.

Courtesy photos Clyde Bisbee & The Wheelhouse Revelers